"Rich with history for a tiny run"

Broadway only runs a tiny bit through Battery Park City until it runs through Bowling Green. There are some beautiful old buildings on this stretch and it's surrounded by green so it's a pretty cool run. 5, 3, and 4 Broadway were the homes of Robert Livingston, Benedict Arnold and Aaron Burr respectively before being replaced by larger commercial buildings. Just a couple of patriots and a traitor doing neighborly stuff a few hundred years ago. I wonder what that was like just after the war . . . The Merchant Marine Building was built in 1884 and now holds a bank but it's a pretty beautiful building for such a boring purpose. It's much prettier than the modern monstrosity across the street which replaced a gorgeous old building. Such is life in New York, I guess. There's a gorgeous old mansion on the corner that still remains. It is where Benedict Arnold made the plans to hand over the soldiers to the British and if ever a traitor plan were to be plotted, this wouldn't be too shabby of a planning hall. I don't know who lived here but I surmise they didn't have to worry much about buying rations. It's a stunning building and I'm glad it's still around. South of that, we run into Bowling Green and Broadway ends. Bowling Green really is a beautiful stretch of green and it's rumored that this is where the purchase of Manhattan was made for $24 from the Canarsie Indians. There are Revolutionary War statues all over. I like the old timey fence in the middle of the green. It's complete with ripped off crowns that used to be there but were taken off by rebels. I love this area because the history is so rich but you can't really live on this stretch. There's not a lot to do aside from sightseeing, though, so I don't know why you'd want to live here anyway.

"A surprisingly quiet slice of greenery in busy downtown."

Battery Park is often associated with stress far more than your average NYC green spot. Between the chaos of nearby Wall Street, the aching emptiness where the World Trade Center and Twin Towers once stood, and the hustle and bustle of commuters coming in from the Staten Island ferry, Battery Park at times can feel like a whirlwind rather than a park. But for New Yorkers and tourists alike, Battery Park can be a hidden pleasure. The bike path that lines the West Side Highway makes a circuitous route that ends up at Battery Park - making it an ideal "finishing line" for the exercise crowd. Likewise, the street artists and comfortable benches make this a perfect spot to sit and read - or just watch the world go by. (This is, however, a strictly summer-y pursuit; the wintertime turns Battery Park into one of the coldest, windiest spots in the city, given its proximity to not one but two bodies of water.)

A downside of Battery Park is the relative lack of indoor restaurants/cafes nearby or lining the park. While Fraunces Tavern is a great touristy venture, the nearest Starbucks is a fair few blocks away, and less chain-y outlets seem to be few and far between. The nearest amenities seem to be for a happy hour/post-work crowd, which can be daunting for the idle pleasure visitor. That said, while Battery Park doesn't have the neighborhood feel of - say - Central Park, it's nevertheless a highly worthwhile place to visit and spend an afternoon.